Faith | A hospital stay led him closer to God, but trust in Romans 8:28 wasn’t easy
Recently, I was hospitalized for “para pneumonia effusion” and spent 10 days and 9 nights in the hospital at the Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland over Christmas. I’ve never been on such a roller coaster ride of ups and downs in my life.
I had what I consider the most outstanding and caring nurses and support, along with my daughter staying and watching over me.
I started out on floor one in the emergency area, and was then moved to a room on the fourth floor. A couple of days later I was promoted to the ninth floor with a fantastic view. I later found out that the ninth floor was for more serious patients., with the tenth top floor being the most critical.
The night before I came in, I was feeling so badly that I prayed that God would take me home that night unless things would quickly turn for the better.
The next day after my stubbornness subsided, I finally gave in to my daughter who wanted to take me to the emergency entry at Kadlec. I got right in since I was having a hard time breathing.
It was already evening, so they kept me overnight, and the next morning drained 2-liters of fluid from my lungs on the right side. Immediately, I could breathe normally and felt a huge relief just to be able to breathe again.
They kept draining fluid from the area around my right lung for the next several days.
The prognosis of what my best options to do for a positive eventual outcome seemed to constantly change. Even as a Christian, I had a hard time trying to apply Romans 8:28, that all things work together for good for those who love and trust Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.
I definitely drew closer to God, and wanted my loved ones to know how much I love them.
The doctors were all totally awesome, but I always asked for their best opinion whether good or bad. Even on my release day, which was postponed, by a day, I was still on a roller coaster ride of good to bad news going back and forth.
I was finally released, though, and with my faith in God I trusted that he would do what is best and in my eventual best interest. Whatever the outcome, I wanted it to glorify him.
Again, I am forever grateful for the fantastic care I received from Kadlec and my personal physician, Dr. Matthew Lawrence. He has continued to help me through this affliction over the past many years, from my initial thyroid cancer to it spreading to my lungs, causing these ongoing problems.
God has already extended my quality of life extensively, much longer than expected from my original oncologist’s original predictions. I have already been super blessed over the years. But, I still wouldn’t mind a couple more good years.
My hope is that my story will encourage people to have a relationship with our loving Lord, to have inner peace of mind about everything. If we trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior, it can happen.
This hospital stay, and close call, has reminded me that there is happiness beyond our wildest dreams in heaven with him. You can have that assurance, too.
